Traffic controlling system for railroads



Nov. 8, 1932. J. E. STEPHENSON TRAFFIC CONTROLLING SYSTEM FOR RAILROADS Filed Feb. 20, 1931 aY ,A' ATTQRNEY Patented Nov. 8, '1932 UNlT-ED STATES.

PATENT oFFIca JAMES E. STEPHENSON, or nocnnsrn'mnnw YORK, ASSIGNOR 'ro GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, or nocnnsrnn, NEW Yonx,

TRAFFIC CONTROLLING SYSTEM FOR'RAILROADS Application filed February. 20, 1931. seriaimtmasi.

it is proposed to provide means whereby each track switch may be controlled over a nor-. mally deenergized polarized circuit, but so arranged that should the controlling means at the track switch be accidentally orerroneously moved to a new position, the control circuit shall then immediately be effective to operate the controlling means back to its former position. l

' Other. objects, purposes and characteristic features or" the present invention will be in: part obvious from the accompanying drawing'and in art pointed out as the description of the invention progresses. p

In describing the invention in, detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawing which illustrates in a diagrammatic manner one form which the present invention may assume.

With reference to the drawing, a railroad track switch TS is indicated as controlled by a suitable power operated switchmachine SM. This switch machine SM may beof any suitable type, such for example as disclosed in thepatent to W. K.. Howe, Patent No.

1,466,903, dated. September 4, 1928; or it may be a switch machine having that type of operating mechanism, as shown in Patent No. 1,466,903, -but adapted to .be controlled by the operation of normal and reverse circuit controllersin conjunction with overload protection as disclosed, for example, in the pending application ofHoppe and Swanton, Ser.

No. 474,758, liled'August 12, 1930; or it may be any other suitable type switch machine operable to either of two extreme positions for suitably controlling the track switch, to normal or reverse locked extreme positions.

Associated with the switch machine SM is a control relay OR of the polarized type.

This relay has contacts 11 and 12 which are operated to normal or reverse extreme positions depending upon the polarity applied to the windings of the relay, and which are held in their last operated positions, irrespective of the deenergization of the relay windings, by some; suitable mechanical holding'means, such as a toggle arrangement, or some suitable magnetic stick means, such as permanent magnets. i

.A relay N of any suitable type neutral res lay has contacts Band 14 which are actuated to energized positions when current flows through its windings in either direction.

. In the tower-at the central control point, a control lever L is adapted to operate con'- tacts 15 and 16 to normal or reverse positions for suitablyreversing. the direction of current, flow in the control wires 17 and. 18 which extend from the tower to the track switch location. l I

It is contemplated in accordance with the present invention, that there will be a large number of control levers L located in the tower and similarly connected with theircorresponding switch machines located'within the territory under control of theoperator. The various levers may be electrically or mechanically interlocked in accordance with common practices; and the switch machines in the field are preferably governed by suitable approach and detector locking means togetherwith the necessary governing signals,

. all without in anyway detracting from the present invention.

' In the-tower, a battery BT, or other suit- I able source, supplies energy for the various control and operating circuits. The buses 20 and 21 are connected to the positive and negative terminals respectively of the battery BT; while two "buses '24and are connected to the buses 20 and 21 respectively through fuses 22 and 23. The control lever contacts 15 and 16 of each lever in the tower are connected to the buses 20 and 21; while the buses 24 and. 25 extend from the tower to the several switch machines, with the respective circuits' at such switch machines connected to these buses 24 and 25 through fuses 26 and 27 respectively.

Operation of the system {7- 17 lVith the control lever L in a normal position as shown with the relay GR in correspondence therewith, the neutral relay N is deenergized, thus disconnecting the control relay CR from its controlcircuit including wires 17 and 18. When the system is in this normal condition, the neutral relay N is normally deenergized by reason of the fact that the same terminal of the battery is connected to both terminals of its windings, which is readily obvious from the drawing.

Assiiii1i'11 "tl1at the operator desires to operate the track switch TS to a reverse position, he moves the lever L from the normal position to the reverse position, which completes an energizing circuit for the neutral relay N from the positive terminal of the battery BT, through bus 20, fuse 22, bus 24, fuse 26, wires 32 and 33, contact 11 of control relay GR in a normal position, wire 34, winding of neutral relay N, wire 35, control line wire 18, control lever contact 16 in a reverse position, wires 36 and 37, bus 21, to the negative terminal ofthe battery BT.

This circuit causes-the contacts 13 and 14 of the relay N to be actuated to energized positions in which an energizing circuit is completed for the control relay CE- from the positive terminal of the battery BT, through bus 20, wire 38, control lever contact 15 in a reverse position, control line wire 17, winding of relay GR, front contact 13 of neutral relay N, wires 39 and 18, control lever contact 16 in a reverse position, wires 36 and 37, bus 21, to the ne ative terminal of the battery ET. This direction of current flow in the winding of the relay CR causes its contacts 11 and 12 to be actuated to left hand or reverse eXtreme positions, in which positions they are held until the windings are energized with the opposite polarity. The movement of contact 11 to a reverse position opens the energizing circuit of the relay N above traced, causing its contacts 13 and 14 to assume deenergized positions. The opening of front contact 13 deenergizes the relay CR;

while closing of back contact 14 causes positive potential to be placed upon the reverse operating wire of the switch machine SM from the positive terminal of battery BT, through bus 20, fuse 22, bus 24, fuse 26, wires 32 and 40, back contact 14 of relay N, contact 12 of control relay GR in a reverse position, reverse operating wire 41, through the oper* ating mechanism of the switch machine, common return wire 42, fuse 27, bus 25, fuse 23, bus 21, to the negative terminal of battery ET.

The flow of current in this circuit causes the switch machine SM to operate the track switch TS to a reverse extreme locked position, after which the switch machine suitably opens the operating circuit, as described, for example, in the above mentioned Patent No. 1,466,903 or application Ser. No. 474,758.

It is noted, that as soon as the control relay CR has operated its contacts into correspondence with the position of the control lever contacts, the same potential is applied to both terminals of the relay N, thereby completing a shunt circuit. For example, with the control lever L in a reverse position and the contacts of-the control relay OR in reverse positions, a shunt circuit is traced from the left hand terminal of the relay N, through wires 35 and 18, control lever contact 16 .in a reverse position, wires 36 and 37, bus 21, fuse 23, bus 25, fuse 27, at the track switch location, wire 43, contact 11 of relay GR in a reverse position, wire 34, to the right hand terminal of the relay N. A similar circuit is completed when the control relay GR is in a normal position in. correspondence with the lever L in a normal position.

The operation of the relay CR back to a normal position to close the normal operating circuit through normal operating wire 45, and thereby operating the switch machine and track switch back to their normal positions, is merely the converse of the operation already described and will not be pointed out in detail.

It is noted, that the polarity of the current flowing through the neutral relay N is reversed for each operation, thereby positively insuring that the magnetism in the relay N passes through zero for each operation. The operation of the relay N prior to the relay CR and its deenergization prior to the deenergization of the relay CR- insures that the relay CR will be provided with operating current for a suliicient length of time to opcrate its contacts to new positions. Should the neutral relay N for one reason or another remain in its energized condition, the switch machine willnot be operated due to open back contact 14. This insures that each operation must be completed before the switch machine is controlled to unlock the track switchand operate it to a new position.

The fuses 19 and 20 provided at the track switch location provide protection of that switch machine from continuous or undue overloads but the switch machine SM is preferably provided with overload means as provided in the above mentioned application Ser. No. 474,758. Thefuses 22 and 23 are provided in the tower to protect control circuits of the system from shorts with a particular bus such as bus 24 or 25.

If the control relay OR is operated to a new position out of correspondence with the control lever L due to vibration or the like. the neutral relay N is immediately energized closing front contact 13 and energizing the control relay CR through its control circuit memes including the control lever Contacts so as to operate the contacts 11 and 12 to their former positions.

More specifically, with the control lever L inthe normal position shown and the contacts 11 and 12 of relay CR operated to reverse positions due to vibrations or the like, an energizing circuit is closed for the neutral relay N from the positive terminal of the battery BT, through bus 20, wire 38, control lever contact 16 in a normal position, line wire 18, wire 35, winding of relay N, wire 34, contact 11 of relay CRin a reverse position,

wire 43, fuse 27, bus 25, fuse 23, bus 21, to

the negative terminal of batery ET.

This circuit energizes the relay N which closes the control circuit for therelayCR from the positive terminal of the battery BT, through bus 20, wire 38, control lever .con-

tact 16 in a normal position, wires 18 and 39,

front contact 13 of relay N, windings of relay CR, wire 17 control lever contact 15 in a normal position, wires 44: and 37, bus 21, to the negative terminal of battery ET. The contacts of relay CR are actuated to normal positions which in turn deenergize the relay N, thus restoring the system to normal conditions. f

Thus, a controlsystem for railroad track switches has been described which provides normally deenergized control circuits having the same advantages as normally energized polarized control circuits in that the control relay GR is always maintained or returned to its position in correspondence with the lever L.

Having described a remote control system for railroad track switches as one. specific embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that this arrangement is selected to facilitate in the disclosure of the invention rather than to limit the number of forms and arrangements which it may assume; and, it is to be further understood that various modifications (other than those mentioned), adaptations, and alterations may be applied to the specific form shown to meet the requirements of practice without in any manner departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention except aslimited by the appended claims.

ble to opposite extreme positions, means for energizing said neutral relay only when said control lever contacts are out of correspondencewith said polar relay contacts, means energizing said polar relay in accordance with said control lever contacts only when @saidneut-ral relay is energized, and means to said switch machine, means connecting preventing operation of said: switch machine "while said neutral relay is energized.

2. In asystem for the power operation of rai-lroadfl track switches, a switch machine, a

polar relay having contacts operable to opposite extreme positions for governing the operation of said switch machine, a neutral relay, a battery source, two bus wires extendingfrom said battery source, two control wires extending from said battery source, a

trol lever is out of correspondence with said vpolar/relay contacts, means connecting said polar relay to said control wires [when said neutralrelay is energized, and means prewhile said'neutral relay is energized.

8; In an interlocking system for railroads, a switch; machine, a polar'control relay, a neutral relay, a control lever, a battery source, two buses extending from'said battery source to said switch machine, two control wires extending from said battery source venting operation of saidswitch machine said neutral relay to: one of. said control wires 2 and one or the other'of said two bus wires depending upon the position of said polar relay, accircuit including said control lever and said two control wiresfor said polar relay closed only when said neutral relay'is energized, and normal and reverse control circuits for said switch machine closed in accordance'with the position of said polar relay and the deenergizedcondition of saidneutral relay.

4. "In combination, a controlled device, a

battery source, .a control circuit, a control a lever having contacts for reversing the direction of current flow in said control circuit,

a control relay included in said control circuit, means closing said control circuit only aftersaid control lever has been moved to a new position and only until said control relay is responsiveto suchlcontrol, means operating said controlled device in accordance with said control relay, and means preventing operation of said controlled device while said control circuit is energized.

5. In combination, a controlled device, one

electro-responsive device having contacts operable to opposite extreme positions for governing the operation of said controlled device, a controllever having contacts operable to opposite extreme positions, another electro-responsive device, means for energizing said another electro-responsive device, only when saidcontrol lever contacts are out of correspondence with the contacts of said one eleotro-responsive device, means energizing said one electro-respo'nsive device in accordance with said control lever contacts only when said another electro-responsive device is energized, and means preventing operation of said controlled device while said another electro-responsive device is energized.

6. In an interlocking system for railroads, a railroad track switch, a switch machine for operating saidtrack switch, a polar control relay located at said switch machine, a neutral relay located at said switch machine, a battery source located in a central tower, two buses extending from said battery source to 'said track switch, two control wires extending from said tower to said track switch,

means connecting said neutral relay to one of said control wires and one or the other of said two bus wires depending upon the condition of said polar relay, a control lever located inv said; tower for applyingopposite potentials to said two control wires from said batitery source, a circuit including said control lever and said two control wires r'or said polar relay closed only when said neutral relay is energized, normal and reverse control circuits for said switch machine closed in accordance with the condition of said polar relay and the deenergized condition of said neutral relay, and overload protection pro- 30 vided for said normal and reverse control circuits of said switch machine.

7. In combination, a switch machine, a remote controller for governing the operation of said switch machine, a polarized control circuit for said remote controller, means for operating said remote controller upon a change in polarity upon said control circuit, means manually reversing the polarity upon said polarized control circuit, means preventing current flow in said polarized control circuit except upon the reversal of the polarity applied thereto, and means preventing said remote controller from governing said switch machine when said remote controller is being 4 actively operated in response to a reversal of polarity applied to said polarized control circuit. 1

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JAMES E. STEPHENSON. 

